Abyss of Dreams (being edited)

[VANE'S POV]

I was floating around an endless expanse; completely void of light, and it wasn't the dark from closing your eyes—a darkness I could peer into.

I conceived various patterns to retain my sanity within this abyss—my eyes weaved the darkness in various shades of purple and red.

Was time a construct here? How long has it been?

Thoughts proved to be difficult, mind; numbed by the void, and the darkness persisted, but not for long;

Dark tendrils of void coalesced, distorting the fabric of space, and aggregating together into a sphere.

The void darkened in the nexus, accumulating tendrils of darkness, siphoning them into it.

Immobile; I couldn't resist the eddies of darkness pulling me, merely succumbing to the force, I watched on;

The powerful currents didn't inflict any damage, however, and carried me into a sphere the size of a star.

Moving at an imperceivable speed, I lay behind the tear—darkness; pure darkness.

Contradicting its essence, the darkness assumed shades, circulating around me in beautiful hues of yellow, blue, and green.

They formed gradients, arranging themselves, and solidifying—forming a platform beneath me.

'Beneath me?', I looked at myself—no, I couldn't look at myself, but I could feel my body; immobile.

My gaze met a countryside, a grassy plain with modest homes, golden farms and pleasant summer weather—a charming precinct.

I ran involuntarily—gaze set on a modest house; standing two stories tall with floral beds encompassing it.

I stood before the house, my hand extended out to ring the bell.

DING DING DING DING

"I am coming, I am coming! Give me a moment!" A soft voice informed, opening the door, revealing a woman in her 30s, gazing at me with her golden eyes.

"What happened Vane? Wait, why are you in such a hurry… did something happen?" the woman asked, her eyes confused and anxious.

Strange, I never recalled a woman like that in my memories, besides, I'm not in control of this body, and I can't ask who this 'Vane' was.

"Yes, Aunty, Aria injured her knee while playing, and seemed to be in a lot of pain. You should probably go," the calm voice of a young boy informed her, nonchalant to the woman's horror.

"Oh my god! Where is she!? Show me Vane!" Her tone morphed into distress, after bringing the essentials, she frantically ran behind the boy.

Despite her looks, she ran with ease, maintained pace with the boy, and a sandy playground came into view.

There we saw a black-haired girl, screaming like a siren gone haywire.

Her cries were met with the assistance of the woman, who cleaned her wound with water and carried her back home. (A few hundred meters away)

The woody floor creaked under our steps, and the woman placed the girl on a wooden table in the hall; a spacious clean room.

Leaving us for supplies, the girl and I were left alone, her teary eyes met mine and she asked;

"V-Vane hic, it h-hurts a lo-hic, don't g-go please!" she asked, pleadingly, her hands moved to wipe away tears.

It seems we were acquainted somehow—as I nodded, despite no mutualism in thought, and looked at the woman entering with supplies.

She took out a small box with a cream inside and began to apply it, but the little girl presented a challenge;

"ARIA! Don't move too much or it will hurt a lot!" her tone laced with distress, cautioned 'Aria', whose body spasmed like a snake, while her mother applied a cream.

"Vane! Could you please tell Aria to stay still?" She requested 'Vane', and I nodded, looking at Aria;

"Aria, if you stay still, I'll play with you once you recover," 'Vane' responded, seemingly aware of this girl's machinations.

"O-OK done! N-no goi- hic back on y-your wo- hic- ok?" she hurried to comply with Vane's offer, and he nodded as if he knew the response.

The girl squealed as the ointment touched her bruised little knee, but true to her words, she didn't kick or lurch.

"There, all done! Good job Aria! And thank you Vane, without you, it would've been such a hassle! Gosh, I can only imagine!" she sighed, looking at me now.

"You're welcome, Aunty," he said, concisely, but the woman wasn't done, gazing somewhere distant and spoke;

"Also, there was this something, hmm…

Ah! I remembered! Ask Teresa to come, including you, to my family's reunion," she said, facing me expectantly.

"Sure, I'll tell my mother. When is it?" he asked, no excitement, no surprise, no change at all in fact.

"Around a week later—make sure to come, okay? There will be a lot of kids your age, and Aria and you can play together!" she said cheerfully while ruffling my hair.

"Alright," a bland response in contrast to her cheerful voice.

"Okay! Now that that's done with, shall we play some games, ho-o-ow ab-o—ut s-s-s-so-" her glitched voice confused me and I could move now.

I looked around—darkness everywhere, proliferating rapidly spreading through the surroundings, and vacuumed my existence.

Now, I floated once again in the nexus of the dark star, and as expected, the darkness took on different shades, but different ones this time.

The marble decorated with grand upholstery and chandeliers—a spacious room filled with guests in luxurious dresses met my eyes.

"How is it Vane? It's my grandpa's birthday, one of the great generals! What do you think, what do you think?" her excitement repeated her phrase, her golden eyes fixed on me.

"It's grand," he replied, his feelings betraying his words, and the little girl furrowed her brows, realising his empty words.

"And you're so bland! You just said those words, but don't mean them right?", Aria asked, her expression unfaltering.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"At least say something, you wall! You won't have any friends other than me at this rate, come on say something!", she requested, but Vane's heart didn't waver.

"…"

"You're more tasteless than corn soup! Maybe we should play a statue game you know? That way you'd at least win in a game!?" She spoke in frustration and jest.

"…"

"…"

An awkward silence ensued, and Aria was getting increasingly frustrated by the second, blowing raspberries at Vane.

Returning from his brain vacation, he finally noticed her frustration and decided to do something.

"… Look, there's a boy there, go play with him," Vane said, his tone shooing her away and pointed at a boy stealing glances at her.

"Eeh, no, I won't play with a creep who keeps looking at me," she voiced her disgust, catching the boy in the act and he turned away, embarrassed.

The ballroom shone in a golden hue, tables laid for eating, delicious aromas wafting from the buffet, guests dancing and people cheering.

In the midst of it was Vane, his heart unmoved by the spectacle or the sumptuous food— nonchalant in countenance he moved;

"I'll be sitting here; you meet your relatives," Vane 'recommended', adding to Aria's frustration who rolled her eyes.

"They're all bo~ring!

Most of them are just old people who leech off my grandfather—stupid leeches!

Besides, no one is as fun to play with as you!" she voiced her disinterest, surprising me with her astuteness

"Sure, but I won't be doing anything—suit yourself," Vane said, moving to a chair, and I wondered why that girl said 'fun to play with'.

"Tch! Why are you so bo~ring?", she rolled her eyes at him, expecting a response.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Ugh! Fine! I'll wait here with you till it ends!" she said, sitting next to Vane near a table.

Well, that's one doubt cleared. (Refers to 'Vane' being fun to play with)

She looked bored yet happy to be with him, but the boy didn't care and looked into the distance mindlessly.

Now that I observe this 'Vane,' he seems mature, unlike kids his age, and rather indifferent.

His speech, demeanor, and composure were remarkably mature and his friend was relatively normal—astute and immature.

He looked no more than 12, and displayed such demeanour—irregular, very, but it's too early to judge.

After a prolonged period of quietude, the silence was broken by an unexpected character;

"That boy is coming with others; you should go with him, it's better to be with them," Vane suggested, but Aria was enraged, scowling at him.

"Arghh! How many times have I told you? Those young masters are just dumb and stupid!

They don't even match up one bit to your handsomeness or your intelligence! Stupid brats!" she scolded the 'brats', being a kid herself.

A trio emerged from my periphery, my eyes turned to them—luxurious clothes, styled hair of different colours, exuding confidence.

Their leader, the guy stealing glances, extended his hands seemingly for me, but he moved on, offering it to Aria.

"Hello, I-I'm… uh… I'm u-h, I-I-I'm sor-", he bent down his head in embarrassment, but his lackey pitched in;

"He is Lord Raul Valorne the 3rd, from the great family of Valorne! If you may, young miss, would you please introduce yourself to his lordship?" a lackey of 'Raul' answered in his stead.

An awkward silence ensued when Aria didn't meet his hands, and he hid it quickly.

"I am Aria Valorne—sorry to say, but I'm busy playing with my friend here, now if you'll excuse us," she spoke eloquently, her voice laced with irritation, turning to face me.

"Valorne!? What!? You're from the main family!?" the other lackey questioned, their countenances contorting into bewilderment.

"Yes, my mother is Avery Valorne; you can meet her there…" she said pointing to Avery, "Now, if you'll excuse us," she spoke coldly, more irritated at them.

The trio were dumbfounded to find out that Aria was from a high status—so was I, because I didn't believe her claim about her grandfather, but now…

It seems the lackeys were hesitant due to her status, but Raul didn't give up, and said;

"Why!? I-I am also from the m-main family! We a-are both from the s-same family! We s-should be socializing amongst o-ourselves," he stuttered out, but what an illogical statement, truly.

"No, my friend here is more important," her voice laden with pure irritation, no longer apologised for the rejection.

Hearing her rejection, Raul looked devastated, as if he lost some prize, and they decided to retreat, not before one of them had something to say;

"Alright! Fine, Your loss! But, could you tell us which family your friend comes from?" one of the lackeys questioned, to which, Vane, a passive observer, finally participated.

"I'm leaving; the ball ended. See you later Aria," the boy dismissed the banter with a mere sentence, and moved, disregarding the kids.

Aria's golden eyes darted towards his retreating figure, and ran towards him, leaving the 3 to eat dust.

"ARIA! COME BACK!" Raul shouted, eliciting curious gazes on the children—how much more will this kid embarrass himself?

Aria, however just ignored him and walked, matching Vane's brisk pace, struggling to keep up with him, but he didn't pay heed.

"You should've gone with them," Vane insisted immediately—rather, shooed her away, while not even meeting her gaze.

"And you should've said something, you dummy! You could at least defend yourself! How dare that bastard demean you like that!? (Refers to handshake)

And why are you like a wall, anyway!? why do always want me to be away when you know it's not going to happen!?" she asked, frustration and sadness tinged in her voice.

Vane paused his walk, now in a corridor, and replied, uncharacteristically;

"You should play with other kids, Aria—it's vital for your development and for your good," he said, still not looking at her.

"Why!? I don't understand—why do you keep doing this?

Is it that I'm not as mature as you? Do I not spend enough time with you!? Am I n-not pretty enough!?

Tell me why!? I should at least deserve to know this after we have been friends for 3 years!" her shout caught the attention of passerbys, but she quickly lowered it, and asked, frustration unbridled in her voice.

For a while silence presided, and both of them walked into an empty corridor, lit dimly, the backdrop—a beautiful garden to the side and an indigo sky, illuminated by the moonlight.

Now with privacy, Vane finally turned to Aria—whose face seemed to be on the verge of crying, but he stood, indifferently, and replied;

"It's none of them, Aria—you are above your age in maturity, spend time with me, and you're definitely pretty enough to have a prince desire you.

However, you should not be involved with me. I hope you seriously reconsider hanging out with me; you should know what's best for you," Vane said, calmly, and his heart was tranquil.

"Why, why, WHY! I don't understand! If that's the case, why don't you want to be with me!? Tell me Vane! I asked you ma-hic times before, yet you keep dodging i-hic it.

Please tell m- hic Vane! You are the only person I could talk to after my father's death! I-I don't want to l-l-lose yo- hic, p-please!" her earnest pleas came out as muffled words, and met Vane's eyes—his indifferent eyes.

The moonlit sky illuminated her face—which was undeniably beautiful, enough to be a top supermodel in my old world when she grows up.

Regardless of her beauty, Vane gazed at her, and what I sensed when he stared at her, I sensed nothing, he felt nothing.

Standing silently, he contemplated for a while, watching the teary Aria looking at him while wiping her tears.

"P-p-p-p-le-le-le-lea-s-s-e."

The scene was starting to distort, signaling the end, and he finally replied, still being indifferent;

"A-A-A-Ar-Ar-Aria I-I-I-", the voice glitched, once again speaking of the growing darkness, and as expected—pure darkness.

I was left in suspense as to what Vane said, but the darkness didn't wait, assuming various shades, countless times.

Countless times…

- - - - -

"GASP," I inhaled greedily, the scenarios—still vivid in my mind, and I experienced the past of a person.

Vane Terrance's past, to be precise, and also my past, in this world, for we share the same face, same name, and hence, the same past.

"I am… Vane Terrance?"